Eleanor V. Rinehart

Eleanor V. Rinehart, 93, of Largo, professional knitter, apple bread baker, crafter, and roller derby skater, went home to the Lord Monday, May 7th. She was the daughter of the late Harry & Hazel Anderson and wife of the late Wayne Rinehart. Eleanor was born in Chicago and lived thru the Great Depression. She had to quit school after completing the 8th grade and get a job to help the family. She met Wayne in Chicago on VJ Day. They were married in 1946 and moved to Eldorado, Kansas where they bought and managed a hotel. They subsequently moved to Ohio and then Iowa Eleanor worked in the yarn department at Younkers Department store in Des Moines, Ia. She loved knitting and taught an adult education course in knitting at Simpson College in Indianola. She designed a coat for Bernat Yarns which was featured on the cover of their catalog. Eleanor moved to St Petersburg in 2001 to be closer to family and made many new friends. She was a member of The First Baptist Church of Indianola, Iowa and had attended the Paradise Lutheran Church in Treasure Island since she moved here. She was past president of the Eagles in El Dorado, a member of Moose Lodge and the American Legion, and she also volunteered at the Veterans Hospital in Iowa. Her smile could light up a room and she loved to dance and at one time she skated in the roller derby in Chicago. She will be missed by all who knew her. Eleanor is survived by her sister, Helen Brazell of California; daughter, Pat Dickinson of California; son, Richard (Beverly) Willis of Ohio, daughter Marilyn Wambold of St. Petersburg; nieces, Terry Brazell of California and Dale Keys of Texas; 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later time in Treasure Island at the Paradise Lutheran Church. David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Central Avenue Chapel is serving the family. Service Information